Understood, but two problems here. 1 - We are talking about the American retirement system, which is not different-pay-same-outcome. It is different-pay-diffe

Understood, but two problems here. 1 - We are talking about the American retirement system, which is not different-pay-same-outcome. It is different-pay-different-outcome. and 2 - median pay isn't the right metric here, but you are right that above a certain income level, the benefit provided by these programs are seen as less personally beneficial than the taxes to support them are seen as detrimental. But I don't think that plays a significant factor in this discussion (besides acknowledging that opponents of these programs are therefore more likely to be well funded), because the bar for which that occurs for American retirement plans is significantly higher than the income of the majority of the population. This is reflected in things such as 94% of the American public believing the social security should stay the same or be increased, while <6% believe it should be cut in any way. FWIW: I completely agree with you that racism as a political force is counter-productive and harms all races significantly. I don't believe that changes my point. I mixed race into it, because this is the historical reason why America has many social policies that appear to be lackluster compared to similar European plans. I'm having a hard time find the quote in google (is it just me, or has google gotten significantly worse the last few years?). But there is a quote I'm going to paraphrase, from what I believe was a chief legislative strategist of Nixon's whitehouse, but I could be wrong on the exact identity of the individual. It goes, roughly, like this: "So it starts out in the 50s by saying you're going to put the niggers in their place. You can get elected on that platform. But that starts being unacceptable in the 1960s, so you have to change your messaging. So instead of talking about race, you start talking about the inner city and forced busing. By the 70s even that is becoming unacceptable, so you start talking about crime in the inner city, and cutting welfare. Fast forward to today, and what you are having is a completely economic political discussion. There is no discussion of race whatsoever. Its amazing how far removed our discussion has gotten. But make no mistake, the heart of the contention is the discussion of race, and preferential treatment of the races. And everyone involved in the discussion is completely aware of that fact."